Mary Mary

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This article is about the musical duo. For other uses, see Mary Mary (disambiguation).

Mary Mary
Trecina on left, Erica on right
Background information
Birth name	Erica & Trecina Atkins
Origin	Inglewood, California
Genre(s)	Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop
Occupation(s)	Singers, Songwriters
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1998-present
Label(s)	Columbia Records
Associated acts	Warryn Campbell
Website	Mary-Mary.com
Members
Erica Campbell Trecina "Tina" Campbell

Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Monique Campbell ( born April 29 1972 ^[1] ) and Trecina "Tina" Evette Campbell ( born May 1 1975 ^[2] ), and are often credited for broadening the fan base of contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music and hip hop.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Personal Life 2 Musical Career 2.1 Debut Album Thankful 2.2 Incredible 2.3 Mary Mary 2.4 A Mary Mary Christmas 3 Awards 4 Discography 4.1 Music Videos 5 Mary Mary In The Media 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell were born in Inglewood, California.

The Campbell (formerly Atkins) sisters grew up as part of a large family of nine children in Inglewood, California. Their parents are Thomasina ( a choir director at the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ ) and Eddie ( a youth minister ).

Because of their proximity in age, the two singers grew up closer to one another than to any of their seven siblings ^[3]. The Atkins chldren are Darrel (1965)(the only boy; the 2nd boy died in childhood); Maliea (1967); Erica and Tina; Delisa (1978); Thomasina (1979); Alana (1985) and Shanta(1987) ^[4]. Thomasina and Alana sometimes sing back up for their big sisters ^[5].

The sisters quickly entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and some television productions. All nine Atkins children were on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET.

The sisters had their sights set on making music a career and enrolled at El Camino College to study voice. There they ran up against the divide between academic music studies and the popular musical world. We had to study classical and sing arias, which was fine, Erica told the Times, but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument.

The sisters toures with the 1995 Michael Matthews traveling gospel show Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky. Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for a variety of R&B acts including Brandy.

A meeting with producer Warryn Campbell led to their song publishing deal with the giant EMI music conglomerate and a series of songs that landed on the soundtracks. They wrote Dance and performed it with Robin S. for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle; Let Go, Let God for The Prince of Egypt Inspirational,one of three soundtrack albums for the film; and songs of theirs were recorded by Yolanda Adams and 702. At the same time, Mary Mary as a musical entity took shape.The sisters' profile in the gospel industry was raised when their songs Time to Change and Yeah were recorded by Yolanda Adams on the Mountain High... Valley Low CD.

[edit] Personal Life

By 2005, both sisters are married to unrelated men with the last name Campbell; one Campbell is from Chicago and one Campbell is fom Los Angeles ^{[6] [7]}.

Tina married drummer Teddy Campbell in August 2000. Their daughter Laiah Simone Campbell was born sixteen days early on Tuesday 9 September 03, weighing 5lbs 4 oz^[8].Tina announced that she and her husband, Teddy are expecting their second child in 2007 ^{[9] [10]}

Erica married their record producer Warryn Campbell on 26 May 2001. ^[11]. They have a daughter named Krista (born September 13).

[edit] Musical Career

[edit] Debut Album Thankful

Main Article: Thankful

The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia Records/C2 Records and decided to perform under the name Mary Mary, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. They were first gospel act to record for the industry giant Columbia Records since Tramaine Hawkins in the mid-1990s. Their first single, "Shackles (Praise You)" became a croosver hit, being popular with gospel, R&B, and pop audiences. It was a Top 10 R&B and Top 40 pop hit, and peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became the first gospel song in five years to crack the R&B top ten and gained wide exposure on the MTV video cable channel. The album was a huge success because it offered a younger, hipper version of gospel that audiences could relate to. Their first album,Thankful (Mary Mary Album) in May 2000, which would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, and a second single, "I Sings". Peaking at #1 on the Gospel album chart and at #59 of the overall Top 200 chart, Thankful was certified Platinum for sales of 1 million copies in the USA. Both singles were also hits in the UK and Europe, and to this day remain popular with Christian youths in the US, Latin America, and Europe.

[edit] Incredible

Main Article: Incredible

With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success. The record, soon after its release, went to #1 on the Gospel chart, and was able to enter the Top 20 of the Top 200 album chart. Incredible was later on certified Gold for 500,000 copies sold in the United States. The album's singles In The Morning and I Try became relatively large hits within the contemporary gospel nation.

[edit] Mary Mary

Main Article: Mary Mary

After taking time off to have children, their third album Mary Mary appeared. It became the duo's first album to enter the Top 10 on Billboard and was later on certified Gold for sales of 500,000 copies. The first single "Heaven" containing a sample from seventies soul trio the Honey Cone's "Want Ads". Heaven made history and broke chart records as it had an unprecedented 9 week run as the #1 record on Billboard's Gospel Radio chart. The second single, "Yesterday", also became a hit, especially on the Adult R&B charts where it peaked at #10. On the R&B/Hip Hop chart, the song became their second biggest hit since "Shackles" in 2000, reaching the #53 spot so far.

[edit] A Mary Mary Christmas

Main Article: A Mary Mary Christmas

On October 10, 2006, the recording group released their most recent album inspired by Christmas songs and is called A Mary Mary Christmas.

[edit] Awards

• Grammy for Best Contemporary Gospel Album, for Thankful (2000)
• Dove Award:
  • 2001: Urban Recorded Song of the Year (Shackles (Praise You))
  • 2001: Urban Album of the Year (Thankful)
  • 2002: Urban Recorded Song of the Year (Thank You, from Kingdom Come, the Soundtrack with Kirk Franklin)
  • 2003: Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (In the Morning from Incredible)
  • 2004: Urban Recorded Song of the Year (Dance, Dance, Dance from Gotta Have Gospel)
• American Music Award, Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational, for Mary Mary

[edit] Discography

Album	Statistics	Singles
	Thankful Released: 2000 Chart Positions: #59 (US), #22 (R&B US). Platinum	"Shackles (Praise You)" "I Sings" "Can't Give Up Now" "Wade In The Water"

Incredible Released: 2002 Chart Positions: #20 (US), #10 (R&B US). Gold

In The Morning I Try

Mary Mary Released: 2005 Chart Positions: #8 (US), #4 (R&B US). Gold

Heaven Yesterday

A Mary Mary Christmas Released: October 10, 2006 Chart Positions: #148 (US), #33 (R&B US).

Carol Of The Bells

[edit] Music Videos

• "Shackles (Praise You)"
• "I Sings"
• "Thank You (featuring Kirk Franklin) from the Kingdom Come (2001 film) movie soundtrack Not to be confused with the duo's own song from their album Incredible
• "In The Morning"
• "Heaven"
• "Yesterday"

[edit] Mary Mary In The Media

On March 4, 2007, Senator Hillary Clinton recited lyrics from the song "Can't Give Up Now" at a predominately African American church in Selma, Alabama on the anniversary of the famous march over the bridge in Selma, AL. Senator Clinton was criticized for using a fake southern black dialect in her attempt to woo the black vote from Senator Barack Hussein Obama who was campaigning for president simultaneously in Selma, AL. at the time^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Soultracks.com biographical entry
• Mary Mary Info and Discography
• Official Website
• Official Myspace page